Father a Royal Marine in Crete - Found names and addresses

Hi Ian

I know that this is a few years on, but my Granddad was also in the MNBDO. He was also captured in Crete in May 1941 during the rear guard action, I think he was sent to STALAG Luff 8b prison of war camp. I have several photos the main one being of the whole unit at before they left. His name was William Mitchell most probably nicknamed Bill Mitchell he was from Cornwall.

Regards

Derek

PS I was also in the Air Force from 1989 to 2013 I was posted to Brawdy, Brize, Lyneham, Marham and Boscombe Down.

 

Some years ago now, I remember talking to a Marine veteran who'd been evacuated from Crete, then the ship that he was on (a destroyer, I believe) was sunk. He was rescued by the Italian Navy, and was a PoW until the Italian surrender (iirc).

Wish I'd asked him for more details at the time.

 

Hi Ian

My uncle was a sergeant in the Royal Marines and captured at Crete. Somehow he was repatriated to Egypt in 1943 (I believe in some kind of exchange) but unfortunately he died in an accident whilst in Egypt on the way to get the plane back to England, aged 26 on 17th April 1943.
I was just wondering if he is in your list and am trying to piece together any details of what happened. I have many of his early letters to my dad from early in the war, some from Malta.
He was known as Reg Dray, but full name was Alfred Reginald Dray and was from Bristol.
If you have any details it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Not sure if this thread is still active but my Grand Father, Harold Merton Monks served in the same theatre at a similar time and I wondered if his name is mentioned anywhere

 

Just seen this. I wonder if a Robert Harris is mentioned in your father's info, please?

 

I have just redicovered this, after losing all my links when my computer failed a few (3/4 years ago).

Many appologies to those you responded to my original posting. I also changed Internet supplier and had to create a new email and therefore login here.

My father was Robert A L Sinclair. He was a PoW in Stalag XVIIIA, and worked on a farm for at least part of his capitivity.

He got to Crete via South Africa, possibly on Almanzara, he talked about Table Mountain several times.

His PoW number may have been 6235 which is on the address of a postcard he sent to my mother. It's a group of four prisoners including my father.

 

High Ian new to this just started looks like my grand father aurther e bradley was captured in crete prison number 95861 very close he was mnbdo hbl pow stalag until 1945 thank you

 

High I have some postcards from pow back home from 5 7 42 until 24 1 44 from stalag v111b thanks

 

Hi
Just found this impressive site. I am researching Dennis Wilfred Stafford, a Royal Marine captured in Crete in 1941. I would appreciate any information on his military or personal history. Many Thanks John.

 

Hi Ian
My Father Marine James Holmes was on Crete in 1941, he was one of the last ones to escape to Egypt

 

Hi, i'm also doing research about my Grandad who was also a RM and captured on Crete in 1941. My Mum is now 90 and can't remember much as he didn't speak much about it. He was a S/Sergeant and ended up in Stalag 18B. He also lived in Cornwall. Unfortunately i don't know which ship he sailed on or which battalion. His No was PLY/21969 and was light infantry. He came home in 1945 As you can see it is Devonport Plymouth Devon. His POW No was 2629. Any info from anyone would be very much appreciated.I've been trying different sites and of not much help. I do know when he was prisoner he worked on farms. He was also incharge of his men as he was the highest rank. His name is James Wilfred Wilson also known as Tug and also Mr. Wilson. Thankyou.

 

UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: J W Wilson
Rank: Sergeant
Army Number: PLY/21969
Regiment: Naval Forces : Officers & Ratings
POW Number: 6292 - (different to what you have quoted)
Camp Type: Marlag Und Milag Nord
Camp Number: M & MN
Camp Location: Westertimke (Tarnstedt), Poland
Section: Naval Forces : Officers & Ratings


Best place to start is with his service records and they can only be obtained via the MOD - forms here Request records of deceased service personnel - you will need to use after filling in the next of kin forms these Royal Navy/Royal Marines part 2 (ODT, 7.82KB) - the address is on the forms and you will need to include a copy of his death certificate

TD

 

Thankyou for the information
I realized after the pow. no was Incorrect
I knew a lot of this
I am interested in finding out where about he was captured and how he was transferred to Germany
Also about his life as a pow
Thanks Also have a few photos taken in camp

 

Four Royal Marines who appear to have been incarcerated in Stalag 383 at some time circa 1942 are:

JJS(?) Brough, of Cooden Beach, Bexhill, Sussex
S Greenwood, of Pothouse Lane, Darwen, Lancashire
J(?) Crowe, of Henderson Road, Portsmouth
Arthur Thornley, of Birchfield Road, Northampton

The details penned by themselves do not indicate a place etc of capture, but as their names broadly straddle an entry by PO J Cochrane from Airdrie, who listed his ship as HMS Gloucester (sunk by German dive bombers on 22 May 1941, with 722 out of her complement of 807 lost), this may suggest they too had a Cretan association.